Next Up at City Council, 11/5/08

Yay! The Portland City Council Agenda for Wednesday contains this Ordinance:

Parks and Recreation

*1503 Authorize acquisition of approximately 4 acres of property in the Gateway Regional Center Urban Renewal District in accordance with an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Portland Development Commission (Ordinance)

My friend and colleague Linda Robinson, with other good people, has been working towards purchase of this future park for years. Congratulations, East Portland activists and City staff!

I hope we get this one, too:

Office of Emergency Management

*1500 Authorize application to the Department of Homeland Security for a grant in the amount of $9,681,010 to plan for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive events through training and equipping first responders (Ordinance)

That would be a nice chunk of change coming into our economy and our City budget at a difficult time. Also, we have a lot of work to do, to be prepared for natural disasters, so hopefully the activities planned can address those as well as man-made events. Go grant writers!

On Wednesday afternoon:

1504 TIME CERTAIN: 2:00 PM – Tentatively deny the appeal of Northwest District Association and uphold with conditions the Historic Landmarks Commission’s decision to approve with conditions the application of GFV Enterprises LLC, William V. DeBellis and Singer Properties for an 87-stall parking garage at 2311-2317 NW Irving St (Findings; Previous Agenda 1398; LU 08-121424 HDZM)

I don’t know why this is scheduled by itself in an afternoon hearing, when there isn’t much time-consuming on the morning agenda, and when it’s clear the Council intends to move forward with the garage. Perhaps there is concern about an appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), so they’re allowing time for testimony on the Findings. Not an occasion I would feel taking the afternoon off work might be worth the effort, especially when comments count when submitted in writing, just as well as oral testimony presented at the hearing.

No hearings on Thursday this week.